Sports Writer

Horror run: Usman Khawaja was given three games to prove himself at No.3 and is deemed unlikely to return. Photo: Getty Images

The writing was on the wall for Usman Khawaja with the submission of a single teamsheet.

His place in the Australian top order was already under significant scrutiny only three matches into his trial in the troublesome No.3 slot. His replacement there for a tour game by Phil Hughes was an ominous sign for the 26-year-old.

Coach Darren Lehmann said careers were on the line in the fifth Test at the Oval this week and he was not mucking about. Khawaja may not even get there, if events at Northampton over the weekend are anything to go by.

Australia's stand-in captain there, Shane Watson, wanted nothing to do with questions about the batting order and its implications. But the indications were not great for the struggling Khawaja, particularly when he lasted only eight balls at No.6 against England Lions before being caught behind on four.

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''I'm a ring-in captain so I have no idea, absolutely none,'' Watson said of the batting order. ''I'm the wrong person to ask that question. I have absolutely no idea.

''I'm told where we're all to bat and we moved on. I know not to interpret things. It might get me into trouble.''

In fairness Khawaja wasn't the only one who was not among the runs in a a drawn practice match abbreviated by rain and bad light. No batsmen passed 50, and Hughes wasn't overly convincing in a two-hour occupation in the middle that netted him 30.

Australia, however, are desperate to solve the puzzle that is their top six before the return Ashes in the home summer, and that could mean yet another change of personnel for a match that can not affect the outcome of the series even if it can, with another defeat, confirm them as the worst-performing side to ever tour England.

Khawaja had waited 18 months for his chance here, repeatedly on the fringe as a 12th man or standby batsman and just when he was set to play in India, he was stood down for failing to complete a team assignment in Mohali.

When he was finally thrown in there was a neat and promising half-century that stood out amid the malaise at Lord's.

But the diabolical umpiring decision at Old Trafford that even prompted Cricket Australia's chief executive James Sutherland to pen an immediate note to the International Cricket Council shoved his return to the side off the rails.

Australia are searching for a No.3 to be the bedrock of their innings and right now Khawaja, with 46 runs in his past two Tests and an average of 19 for the series, is not it. No one, in fact, has been in the nearly two years since a batsman in that position scored a century – Shaun Marsh reaching three figures on debut against Sri Lanka in Pallekele in 2011 before going backwards fast that summer.

Nine have been tried there in that time; Hughes, Watson, Ed Cowan, even Michael Clarke among them. Hughes, with an average of 37.2 across seven matches, has been the best performed. Khawaja's average of 23.54 in six games in that period is just above the general Australian mark at No.3 since Marsh's ton of 23.17.

The numbers do not make pleasant reading for Australia and Clarke, who has taken to assisting in the coaching of batsmen here, including his former vice-captain Watson.

"I've been having a chat to Michael over the last week, especially about the way that I'm getting out, lbw at the moment,'' said Watson, who top-scored in Northampton with 45.

''Michael's advice has been excellent. He's been through a similar thing at some stage in his career. It's good to be able to get his advice. He's certainly one of the best players in the world and has been for the last couple of years. He's been through all those different challenges throughout his Test career, so it's nice to be able to get his advice."

Watson expects to return to bowling after a groin strain at training on Monday. The fifth Test starts at the Oval on Wednesday.

73 comments

Perhaps the Aussie batsmen can change places with the Wallaby backs. They won't be any good, but at least they will have an excuse.

Commenter

Dave Allen

Location

Woy Woy

Date and time

August 18, 2013, 7:41PM

Like

Commenter

Sputnikmelon

Date and time

August 18, 2013, 8:50PM

+1

Commenter

The Frood

Date and time

August 18, 2013, 9:50PM

Dave, at least the wallaby backs put some points on the scoreboard.

Commenter

MY

Date and time

August 19, 2013, 6:52AM

Khawaja is one of our best young talents. The warm up game didn't change selection decisions, Hughes didn't go on and struggled against some short pitch bowling which England will attack him on. Sunil agree 100% on Khawaja, we need to stick with him as he is our long term number 3, Hughes is a good player and got 2 series in a row, how about we give Khawaja a full series before jumping up and down. And those calling on Smith to be dropped need to reaslise that faith in the likes of Smith and Khawaja is key if we are to succeed. If we can win at the oval then we will set us ourselves for the home ashes where conditions will suit us and not Swann.

Commenter

Louie_E

Date and time

August 19, 2013, 8:43AM

Such a shame that our best young batsman gets half the chances other batsman get, did we forget that he got a howler last game

Commenter

Amith_S

Date and time

August 19, 2013, 8:54AM

If your old enough to remember when Border took over a complete shambles....there were a number of batsman who took along time to come good....even the legend Steve Waugh. Boof - give the boy a decent run, take the pressure off him and tell him he is in the team for a while. He looks like he has the weight of the world on him....nobody can perform like that.

Commenter

Occyman

Date and time

August 19, 2013, 9:39AM

@MY

Yes they did score some points.

About the same number as our No 3 Batsmen average.

I blame 20/20.... get two different teams, just like they do in Rugby Sevens !

Commenter

Just Wondering

Location

Queenslander

Date and time

August 19, 2013, 10:31AM

Any chance Michael Clarke batting at three?

Commenter

Gaz

Location

Yarrawonga

Date and time

August 19, 2013, 10:51AM

If they want the best option for No:3 right now it's Katich, if they want to prepare for the future at the expense of this years ashes pick a name out of a hat.